Bayview childcare center transforms public housing

A new, state-of-the art child care center opened in San Francisco that plans to serve 70 children of the Bayview community, including infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Supervisor Malia Cohen, who represents the Bayview neighborhood, said in a statement:

“Investing in high-quality child care and early learning for our most precious resources — our families — is one of the most transformative approaches we can move forward.”

The FranDelJa Fairfax center will provide affordable childcare for low-income residents and provide specialized early learning programs for the needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, according to the mayor’s office.

Acting Mayor London Breed said in a statement that the new facility will offer a safe, clean, learning environment for the children:

“This beautiful new facility — located where a dilapidated public housing site once stood — will bring the best services available to local children and families.”

Breed added:

“When we rebuild our public housing, it is not just about replacing the structures, it is about providing services that uplift and strengthen our communities for future generations.”

The new facility is part of a Hunters Point public housing transformation through the HOPE SF program.

The nonprofit FranDelJa was created in 2000 by two sisters, Gladys Harris and Sandra Young, who wanted to provide high-quality education resources to the Bayview neighborhood.

With the opening of the new center and one opened already in the Bayview, the sisters will now be able to serve 140 children.

Harris said in a statement:

“The new FranDelJA Fairfax center means more children in Bayview Hunters Point will have an opportunity to develop and learn in a safe environment,”

The $1.4 million center was a collaboration between several agencies, including HOPE SF, the John Stewart Company, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.